(CNN) — Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from Wimbledon for a abdominal injury. During a press conference on Thursday, Nadal said: “I have to withdraw from the tournament. … I have a torn (abdominal) muscle.”
The 22-time Grand Slam champion was scheduled to face Nick Kyrgios in their semifinal match on Friday. Kyrgios goes straight to the final to face the winner of Novak Djokovic and Cameron Norrie.
The Spaniard overcame a grueling five-set match once morest Taylor Fritz on Wednesday, winning 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, but at times seemed to be struggling with an abdominal injury.
On more than one occasion, Nadal hunched over following a shot and clutched his stomach. The two-time Wimbledon champion called the trainer in for an evaluation in the second set, before finally using a medical timeout and leaving the court for treatment.
“We are sad to see it end this way,” Wimbledon tweeted, tagging Nadal. “Thank you for another year of unforgettable moments at The Championships.”
Earlier this year, Nadal overcame the pain barrier to win his 14th French Open title, receiving injections in his foot before each match. In a post-match news conference at Roland Garros, Nadal said his 21-year career had left him in pain “every day”.
CNN’s Matías Grez contributed to this report.